Pune: FDA Investigates Surge In Unauthorized Medicine Sales By Practitioners
Pune News: FDA Cracks Down On Fake Drug Network; Seizes Medicines Worth ₹12.47 Lakh ( Representational Image )
The Maharashtra FDA has kicked off a statewide inspection to tackle the illegal sale of medicines by general practitioners to patients referred by other doctors. This action follows concerns from the Maharashtra State Chemists and Druggists Association, which reported multiple complaints from district bodies about doctors hoarding and selling drugs in large amounts, possibly breaching schedule K of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. S V Pratapwar, the assistant commissioner of the FDA (drug), mentioned that while general practitioners are allowed to give out medicines to their own patients, it’s against the rules to sell drugs to patients who have prescriptions from other doctors.
As part of the initiative, each drug inspector is tasked with visiting at least 10 doctors. The goal is also to spot unlicensed practitioners.
Pratapwar to a news publication mentioned, “We’re checking the purchase bills for medications that general practitioners have in stock for their patients.” So far, no violations have been found, but the investigation is ongoing. The FDA is also doing random audits in cases where wholesalers have records of significant drug sales to individual general practitioners, making sure to avoid unauthorized distribution channels.
Anil Belkar, the secretary of the Pune District Chemists’ Association, expressed concern, saying, “We’ve received complaints about general practitioners acting like chemist shops. The illegal storage and sale of drugs in large amounts by doctors have been a major topic in our executive meetings. This is a serious issue that impacts the professional lives and future of many retailers. We’ve urged the FDA to take action, as this practice seems to be widespread across Maharashtra.”
